As a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, flight instructors residing in Puerto Rico may find that they are unable to submit their applications to the FAA to renew their flight instructor certificates. Due to this, the General Aviation and Commercial Division (AFS-800) is issuing a deviation from FAA Order 8900.1 Volume 5, Chapter 2, Section 11, paragraph 5-504D. This deviation allows the South Florida Flight Standards Office (SO-19) to process an application only for applicants residing in Puerto Rico for certificate renewal electronically using the alternate procedure provided below. This deviation shall remain in effect until January 31, 2018, after which time the requirements outlined in FAA Order 8900.1 must be adhered to.

A flight instructor certificate renewal applicant residing in Puerto Rico, who has satisfactorily accomplished the certificate renewal requirements of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) § 61.195 prior to the expiration date of that certificate, may renew his or her certificate by submitting an application and a copy of that superseded certificate to the South Florida Flight Standards Office (SO-19) through electronic means. Although the requirement for certificate renewal must be accomplished prior to the expiration of that certificate, that flight instructor certificate may be received and renewed by SO-19 after its expiration.

Applicants may apply to SO-19 via email by way of the following email address - 7-ASO-SO-FL-FSDO@faa.gov. The renewal applicant must follow the following procedure:

1)The flight instructor certificate renewal applicant is required to submit a completed and signed electronic copy of FAA Form 8710-1 or 8710-11, as appropriate.

2)The “Other” and “Renewal” blocks on FAA Form 8710-1 or 8710-11 must be checked and “Hurricane Maria” must be noted in the “Other” block as a key to AFB-720.

3)The flight instructor certificate renewal applicant must submit a copy of his or her instructor’s certificate instead of the actual certificate.

4)The flight instructor certificate renewal applicant must submit an electronic copy of his or her identification that contains a picture of the applicant (driver’s license, military ID card, etc.). That copy of the applicant’s identification document does not need to be notarized by a notary public.

5)If the flight instructor certificate renewal applicant is renewing on the basis of § 61.197(a)(2)(i) or (ii), the applicant must provide copies of the records that substantiate the training of “… at least five students for a practical test for a certificate or rating and at least 80 percent of those students passed that test on the first attempt,” or having served as a “… company check pilot, chief flight instructor, company check airman, or flight instructor in a part 121 or part 135 operation, or in a position involving the regular evaluation of pilots.” Those records do not need to be notarized by a notary public.

6)If the flight instructor certificate renewal applicant is renewing on the basis of satisfactory completion of a flight instructor refresher course (FIRC) (i.e., § 61.197(a)(2)(iii)), the applicant must submit a copy of his or her FIRC graduation certificate.

7)The certifying official will process the application file and issue the flight instructor renewal applicant a temporary airman certificate, which may be transmitted to the airman through electronic means.

8)The certifying official will submit the applicant’s certificate renewal file to AFB-720.

9)All other requirements of FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 5, Chapter 11, Section 2, when processing an application in accordance with this policy deviation.